Disclaimer: Neither Power Rangers nor "The OC" belong to me. Ryan in this story is my original creation, adapted from the character Ryan Atwood on "The OC."

A/N: So in an odd stroke of inspiration between the hours of midnight and 2 a.m., I produced my first-ever "Harry Potter" stories. One is a Ron/Hermione pairing (my favorite couple from the series!!) and the other a Harry/Ginny. Check them out if y'all get a chance! I'd love to know what some of my more regular, PR readers think!

Ok, on to the next chapter of "Guy of My Dreams!"

Chapter 29: Bridging the distance

(A week later)

In the Rec Room, Bridge sat with a stack of buttery toast piled high on his plate as he had done everyday for every meal since he had found out Z that had gotten involved with Sky. The deliciousness of his favorite food had helped dull the pain slightly of having found out his ex-girlfriend had been having sex with his roommate and best friend.

Still, Bridge was sure his calorie-packed cuisine was not doing any favors for his figure. Not to mention that the weight gain would certainly not better his chances of getting a new girlfriend. Then again, Bridge mused, he was in the best shape of his life while he was dating Z. Yet, they had still not made it as a couple. At the recollection, Bridge took another huge bite of buttery toast, letting the slick crumbs trickle down his chin.

At that moment, the doors to the Rec Room swung open, and Bridge looked up to see Sophie walk in. The blonde shook her head in disapproval at finding her teammate again taking in toast. The side-to-side motion of Sophie's face sent her pigtails flapping against her cheeks, causing Bridge laugh and sending more bread crumbs lose from his mouth.

"All this buttery toast is going to give you cavities," chided Sophie. "And we all know how much you hate the dentist!"

"Sorry, Mummy," apologized Bridge sarcastically. "But don't you think I have a right to be just a wee bit upset these days?"

"I don't know how many more days of this the team can take though," murmured Sophie as she flopped down on the couch beside him.

"I thought it was that Sky and Z slept together, not my toast eating, that was causing all the tension," replied Bridge.

"Yes, yes Bridge, I didn't mean to imply your food choices were the cause behind our team's current collapse," agreed Sophie, giving him a sad, half-smile. "But I can't believe we blew another mission today on account of half our team not speaking to on another. Something has to be done before Cruger declares our squad dysfunctional, or worse, someone just up and quits."

"What, you haven't heard anyone say they are going to leave team?" asked Bridge keenly.

"No, have you?" inquired Sophie.

"No, although Sky has been acting weird lately," replied Bridge. "But anyway, I agree with you that something has to be done to fix our team."

"Maybe you should make the first move to try and smooth things over with Sky and Z both," offered Sophie meekly. "I know, I know it's not what you want to do," she added quickly, seeing Bridge start to protest. "But right now, Sky and Z are each too afraid to come seek you out."

"I can't talk to Sky or Z right now. It's just too hard," sighed Bridge.

"But sometimes the right thing is the hard thing," urged Sophie. "We have to keep B-Squad together. We're more than just each others' friends here at SPD. We're a family."

"An incestuous family," joked Bridge, to which Sophie hit him with a nearby pillow.

"I'm trying to be serious here!" begged the green ranger. "I know Syd and Z made up, but besides that, you're still not speaking to Z who is not speaking to me who is not speaking to Sky who is not speaking to Syd who is not…"

"Ok, Ok, I'll think about going to work things out with Sky and Z!!" exclaimed Bridge, waving his white napkin around like he was surrendering at battle. "Geez Soph, you're almost as good a babbler as I am."

"Oh boy, there's a lot I admire about you Bridge, but your rambling is one habit of yours I'd prefer not to pick up," teased Sophie, who received an affectionate shove from Bridge in return.

"Which is why I gotta ask," continued Bridge, clasping and unclasping his gloved hands nervously, "' cause during your argument we all overheard you having with Z, the one where it was revealed she and Sky were sleeping together, Z also accused you of having feelings for me."

"Which I didn't exactly deny," recalled Sophie, growing hot at the memory. "Bridge, I never ever tried to sabotage your relationship with Z…"

"I know you didn't," cut in Bridge. "And I think in her heart Z knows that, too. But I mean, if she and I weren't together when you first came to SPD to be the green ranger, do you think, I mean, that you and I would have…" stumbled Bridge as his nerves began to get to him.

"Yeah, I mean that's something I would have definitely been interested in," replied Sophie, looking away from Bridge as she turned pink and tucked a strand of her blonde hair shyly behind one of her ears. "Although these days, ranger romances at SPD all seem to turn out to be miserable failures."

"Well if you and I ever got together, I'm sure we'd be the ones to make it last," grinned Bridge, ducking away when he realized what he had said to hide the blush in his cheeks. "Look Soph, this year has been such a roller coaster with all the member changes in B-Squad and having to create the Omega Ranger gear for Sam on top of everyone's romantic relationship drama. And throughout everything, whether we're working or hanging out or whatever, I always have such a blast when I'm around you."

"Are you sure it's not just I'm your only teammate who understands the difference between a protractor and a proton generator?" asked Sophie wryly.

"Nooooo," drawled Bridge, swatting one of her pigtails playfully. "You've been there this year for me, Soph. I really owe you a lot."

"Do you mean that? How about then you working things out with Sky and Z?" offered Sophie hopefully. "'Cause I'm not speaking to them until you do first."

"Can't I just owe you dinner sometime?" asked Bridge beseechingly.

"Work things out with Sky and Z," repeated Sophie as she got up off the couch. "And then maybe, I'll consider it."

"Those green rangers sure are tough," muttered Bridge teasingly.

"I heard that!" sang Sophie, giving him an adoring smile before exiting the Rec Room.

As he watched her go, Bridge wondered if he and Sophie ever would get together. Yet like balloons struck with pinpricks, Bridge's romantic idea bubbles for himself and his girl in green exploded as soon as he remembered that he would never make out with Sophie if he didn't make up with Sky and Z first. In light of their recent love triangle, he wasn't sure if he could bridge the distance that had grown between them all.

But right now, he was still close with Sophie, and doing it for her sake was definitely worth it.